Building a Better Full Back

1
Building a Better Full Back
1) Choosing a Full Back 2) Full Back Coaching
Strategies 3) Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
2
Some basic assumptions

• You are coaching a youth football team

• You run at least these 8 basic plays
• 1- Power (Toss) 2- Trap
• 3- Counter 4- Sweep (Lead, Buck, Jet)
• 5- Wedge 6- G (Belly)
• 6- PA Pass (Toss action) 8- Straight Drop Back
  Pass

• You have all the usual limitations that youth
  football presents
• limited practice time
• limited attention spans
• limited personnel choices
• weight/position restrictions

3
Choosing a Full Back
Is he a Runner or a Blocker?
4
Choosing a Full Back
Hes a Blocker First

• The DW is built on the Toss play, therefore we
  need a strong blocker at the FB position.

• The FBs Kick Out is an integral part of the
  Power play. Without it, we go no where.

• He must be able to block many different types of
  athletes with equal effectiveness.

• Our downfield and flank attacks require effective
  blocking from the FB position.
• Most Sweep, Pass, and Counter plays require Fill
  or Reach blocking skills from the FB.

5
Choosing a Full Back
Hes a Runner First

• The DW can not exist forever on Power, Counter,
  and Sweep. At some point you will need a good
  Trap, Wedge and/or G play to take advantage of a
  given defensive technique or alignment.

• A strong running game from the FB position
  commands the entire defensive fronts attention-
  making his fakes much more effective.

• A good fake is worth two good blocks

• A strong running game from the FB position
  relieves pressure on your WBs. Defenses must
  shift some of their focus to the more immediate
  threat from the FB.

• The Power play is powerful and effective by
  design.. It does not necessarily need a blocking
  specialist at the FB spot to make it go. It
  merely needs an adequate kick out blockthis can
  be taught.

6
Choosing a Full Back
So. Is he a Runner or a Blocker?

• In a perfect world, he is great at BOTH. But
  the Double Wing can support one or the other if
  it has to.You should never put just a blocker
  here if you have a kid on the team that can do
  both.

• In my world, he is a Runner

.who must block effectively if he wishes to
remain a Runner.
7
Choosing a Full Back
What do I look for when selecting a Full Back?

• INSTINCT- This above all else. I cant coach
  it, so when I find it, I
  put it at FB.

• That thing that some kids have that makes other
  kids miss tackles.

• Have your kids play some kind of fun team game
  (like Deer Hunter or Keep Away) and watch them.
  The instinctive athletes are usually obvious in
  these kinds of games.

• Athlete Type-

• 1st- Athleticism. Can he play with strength,
  speed, and balance?
• 2nd- Blocking Ability. Is he aggressive and
  coachable enough to adequately handle his
  blocking assignments?
• 3rd- Size. The relevance will vary w/ each
  athlete but a good starting point would be for
  the average DE in your league to outweigh the FB
  by no more than 30 (this assumes a weight
  restricted ball carrier league)

8
Choosing a Full Back
Instinct, Athleticism, Blocking Ability, and
Size
Thats a LOT to hope for in a youth athlete
These kinds of kids dont grow on trees and Im
usually lucky to get one or two of this kind of
athlete. so this usually means one thing

I must use my best athlete at the FB position and
resist the temptation to put him at WB or QB.
9
Choosing a Full Back
.But this is not a bad thing

• A great runner will threaten more potential
  points of attack from the FB position than he
  will from the WB position.

10
1-Wedge
2-Trap
4-G
3-Trap
5-G
6-PA Pass
7-PA Pass

• Your great runner can hit 7 possible points of
  attack from the Full Back position using just 4
  basic plays .

• 9 when you consider that Trap can be run at 4
  different holes (2,3,4,5)

11
Pass
Off Tackle
Power/Counter
Sweep

• Your best athlete can only hit 3 potential points
  of attack from the WB position. And it takes 4
  of your 8 basic plays to do it.

12
Choosing a Full Back
.But This is not a bad thing

• My best runner will threaten more potential
  points of attack from the FB position than he
  will from the WB position.

• Defenses can more easily overload a WBs limited
  number of potential points of attack.

13
C
C
B
B
B
E
T
T
T
T
E

• Defenses can more easily overload a WBs limited
  number of potential points of attack than they
  can a FBs. Making easier to negate your stud
  player.

14
Choosing a Full Back
.But This is not a bad thing

• My best runner will threaten more potential
  points of attack from the FB position than he
  will from the WB position.

• Defenses can more easily overload a WBs limited
  number of potential points of attack.

• Usually, my best athlete will be more than
  capable of running and blocking with equal
  effectiveness.

• Even if my best athlete doesnt block as well as
  he runs, it will be easier for me to teach him to
  block well than it would be to teach a pure
  blocker to run well.

15
Choosing a Full Back
Weight Restricted Leagues

• Overall Restricted- All players must be at or
  below a given weight or
• all players must fit within a given weight range.
  -AN D- and there are no specific restrictions on
  player size by position. Usually, all teams
  possess relative parity in size.

• These sort of restrictions are actually an
  advantage for a DW Full Back because player size,
  and therefore Defensive End size, is limited by
  the rules.

• Restricted by Position- Unlimited weight league.
  There are no limitations on player size -EXCEPT-
  for Ball Carriers. These positions will normally
  have a max weight they can play at.

• In these leagues you will have some limitations
  on whether or not your best runner can play the
  FB spot. -

• If your best runner is an 85 lb. kid in a league
  full of 150 lb. DEs - Hes probably not going to
  work as a FB.

• Figure 25-30 weight differential with the
  average DE in your league as the baseline size
  requirement for your FB. (Its not as bad as you
  think)

• Never fail to give a gifted runner whos a small
  kid a chance to try the spot if hes snarly
  enough.There are some awfully tough small kids
  out there.

16
Choosing a Full Back
Final thoughts on selecting a Full Back

• I think of my FB in the same terms an I
  formation coach would think of his Tail Back. I
  want the Full Back to be an equal threat to hit
  any spot along the front at any time.

• Even if my best athlete plays both WB spots
  COMBINED (flopping him) I can only give him 6
  potential points of attack from the base set of
  plays. - That same kid at FB hits a minimum of 7
  potential points of attack from the same base set
  of plays.

17
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving your Full Backs running ability
Building Explosion and Speed
Teaching the moves
Play Mechanics
18
FB Coaching Strategies
Building Explosion and Speed

• Frog Leaps and Bunny Hops
• Done as group drills early in the season or as
  team conditioning later on.
• Builds leg and lower body strength.
• Builds power- either from a set position or when
  delivering a blow on the move. Teaches players
  how to uncoil their bodies during contact to
  develop maximum kinetic energy.

19
FB Coaching Strategies
Building Explosion and Speed

• Frog Leaps and Bunny Hops
• Done as group drills early in the season or as
  team conditioning later on.
• Builds leg and lower body strength.
• Builds power- either from a set position or when
  delivering a blow on the move. Teaches players
  how to uncoil their bodies during contact to
  develop maximum kinetic energy.

• Squeeze Drill
• Done with all Running Backs over the coarse of
  the entire season.
• Teaches Runners how to be All shoulder pads and
  knees when running in traffic.
• Teaches ball security.
• Teaches how to take (and deliver) a blow when
  running with the ball.

20
Squeeze Drill
Waiting players

• The Gauntlet- Arrange 6-8 players 1 yard apart
  from each other and facing in. They should all be
  on one knee without sticking their feet or legs
  into the running lane. They may use one or both
  hands to attempt to strip the ball from the
  runners grasp. They are NOT to attempt to tackle
  or knock the runner down.

2) Two Squeezers align 2 yards behind the
Gauntlet and 2 yards apart from each other. Each
has a hand shield. They are each to take a SINGLE
step inside and attempt to squeeze the runner
and prevent him from passing between them.
3) A ball carrier will attempt to run down the
middle of the Gauntlet. Making sure to keep his
body wrapped over the ball and to expose only
shoulder pads and kneeshe should meet the
Squeezers squarely, making sure to keep his
shoulder pads lower than those of the Squeezers.
21
FB Coaching Strategies
Building Explosion and Speed

• Frog Leaps and Bunny Hops
• Done as group drills early in the season or as
  team conditioning later on.
• Builds leg and lower body strength.
• Builds power- either from a set position or when
  delivering a blow on the move. Teaches players
  how to uncoil their bodies during contact to
  develop maximum kinetic energy.

• Squeeze Drill
• Done with all Running Backs over the coarse of
  the entire season.
• Teaches Runners how to be All shoulder pads and
  knees when running in traffic.
• Teaches ball security.
• Teaches how to take (and deliver) a blow when
  running with the ball.

• Resistance Running
• Done with all Running Backs over the coarse of
  the entire season.
• Develops a Runners speed and acceleration.
• Teaches runners to stay behind their shoulder
  pads

22
Resistance Running

• Mark 2 lines 20 yards apart. Use any type of
  resistance harness, fit under the arms and across
  the chest plate of the shoulder pads. Allow 10
  ft of rope for the coach hold on to.

• The Runner should lean his weight against the
  harness and then attempt to sprint forward.
  Making sure to use good form- keep the upper body
  quiet and out in front of the feet
• The coach should offer enough resistance that the
  runner is just able to move himself ahead.

3) When the runner hits the 10 yard mark.
Release the tension on the harness without
actually dropping the leads and allow him to
sprint the rest of the way.
23
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
24
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
Why do I avoid teaching moves like the Spin
Juke Step?
Because these moves take much longer for the
average player to master than the Cut Back or
Stiff Arm does.
Because these moves are much more INSTINCT
dependant. I can teach a Runner how to do a spin
move but teaching him the instinct for using it
is not so easy.
Because these move are more likely to rob up
field momentum from a Runner, especially if not
used exactly right.
HoweverIf I have a kid that has the natural
instinct and ability to use the Spin or Juke, I
will almost never discourage him from using
themI just wont burn up a lot of practice time
trying to teach the rest of my Runners to do it
like he does.
25
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
The Stiff Arm

• Teach it to ALL of your ball carrying players.
• Teach it to be used for re-directing a
  Tacklers momentum instead of for delivering a
  direct blow to the Tackler. (Use the Tacklers
  own momentum against him.)
• Teach it using a Thumb Down position with the
  hand.
• Start small- teach it using the Stiff Arm drill
  before moving on to add live tacklers.

26
Stiff Arm Drill
Traffic Cone
Traffic Cone
Waiting Players
Runner
1) 2 cones are set 10 yards apart from each
other on any yard line. The coach puts himself
over the inside cone and is holding a Heavy Bag
style tackling dummy (if a Heavy Bag is not
available, a regular tackling dummy will do). A
Runner places himself 5 yards away from the
inside cone, holding a ball in his outside arm.
On the coaches signal he takes off heading
straight for the outside cone.
2) The coach will heave the bag at the Runner,
alternating between knee high and shoulder high
throws. He should vary the angle at which he
throws the Bag as well.

• 3) The Runner should attempt to use his inside
  hand (thumb down) as the lever with which to
  use the bags own momentum to deflect it away
  from his body. If any part of the bag touches
  any part of the runner, he is tackled.

Think of this as if the runner is pushing
himself away from the bag instead of pushing
the bag away from him.
27
Stiff Arm Drill
When my Runners show they have mastered the
mechanics of the Stiff Arm, I replace the Bag
with a live tackler and run the drill with full
contact or thud mode.
Tackler
Traffic Cone
Traffic Cone
Waiting Players
Runner
Depending on what part of the body the tackler
has exposed to the Runner- The ideal aiming
points for a Stiff Arm are 1- Top of the helmet
(not the facemask) 2- Top of the shoulder
plate 3- Chest plate
ltStiff Arm Clips heregt
28
FB Coaching Strategies
Teaching the moves
The Cut Back

• Teach it to ALL of your ball carrying players.
• Practice it in a variety of drills and
  situations.
• Spend equal amounts of time practicing it in both
  directions.

29
Triangle Drill
Traffic Cone
Tackling Dummy
Traffic Cone
Runner

• 3 Tackling dummies stood on end and arranged in a
  3x5 triangle. 2 traffic cones are set 8-10 yards
  outside the center dummy. The coach stands in
  front of the center dummy holding a blocking
  shield.
• The Runner starts from 5 yards in front of the
  triangle. As he approaches the first two dummies
  the coach should quickly step into one or the
  other gap- making sure to protect himself w/
  the shield in case the runner goes the wrong way.
  
• The Runner should cut AWAY from the coach and
  through the opposite side of the triangle. We
  want him to bend his path back up field and
  around the traffic cone once hes completed his
  cutback.

30
Cut Back Drill
(also a great defensive drill).
Tackler
Any Yard Line
Traffic Cone
Runner
Side Line

• 1) This is a live (full contact) drill, though
  it can be done in Thud mode also. Place a
  traffic cone 3 yards away from the sideline on
  any yard line and a second one 20 yards away from
  the first, along the same yard line. A Runner and
  a tackler align over the inside cone facing each
  other, and on opposite sides of the line.
• 2) On the coachs signal the Runner takes off
  and is free to use any move he can (juke, change
  speeds, shoulder fake, etc.) to force the
  tackler to over run his pursuit. If he does force
  the over-pursuit, he should immediately cut back
  to the tacklers inside. If he cant, he should
  turn the run up field as soon as he hits the cone
  set near the sideline.
• 3) The tacklers job is to prevent any up field
  move at all by the Runner. His first job is to
  avoid over pursuing, his next job is prevent the
  up field cut by the Runner.

ltCut Back Clips heregt
31
FB Coaching Strategies
Play Mechanics
There are some techniques that dont necessarily
have to be used to insure a good FB, but they do
add form and function to the position. Taken
individually they might seem insignificant, but
collectively they are a hallmark of a well
coached FB.

• There are many, many aspects to the Full Backs
  specific play mechanics. Ill
• address one of my favorite ones
• 
  
• The Cross Over Step -
• 
  

32
FB Coaching Strategies
Fine Points
The Cross Over step puts a little bit of polish
on the FB position.

• Teach the Cross Over step for all plays where
  your FB opens in the same direction as the motion
  call.
• It takes very little time to teach.
• It gives the QB and pulling lineman an extra
  foot or so of clearance by getting the FBs hips
  turned away from them.
• It helps put the FB on a proper banana path to
  the DE.
• It gives a more uniform look to all of your
  plays, enhancing your misdirection by giving a
  consistent Power look for the first few steps
  of every such play.

ltCross Over Clips heregt
33
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving your Full Backs blocking ability
Improving the basic skill
Making the Kick Out more effective
34
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving the basic skill

• I make liberal use of the Pancake Drill (Pit
  Blocking). Its one of the best drills for
  working on the different techniques involved in
  blocking.
• I can get many full contact reps in with little
  chance of injury.
• It has many variations that can be used to
  emphasize many different skills.
• It teaches players to finish blocks.
• The players love this drill.

35
Pancake Drill
Blocker
Defender
Tackling Dummies

• A defender aligns 1 yard in front of a row of 6
  tackling dummies laid down as shown above. A
  blocker sets him self a yard or two from the
  defender in whatever stance is being practiced at
  the time.
• 2) The blocker will execute whatever technique
  is being practiced at the time. The object being
  to finish the block by driving the defender
  into the pads on the ground.

36
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving the basic skill

• I make liberal use of the Pancake Drill (Pit
  Blocking). Its one of the best drills for
  working on the technique of blocking.
• I can get many full contact reps in with little
  chance of injury.
• It has many variations that can be used to
  emphasize many different skills.
• It teaches players to finish blocks.
• The players love this drill.

• Head Placement is everything. More often than
  not, all a FB has to do is make sure his head
  placement is correct to insure a decent block.
• I stress Head Placement in every blocking drill.
  
• I want the FB to place his helmet inside
  defenders helmet on Kick Out and Lead blocks,
  and outside the defenders helmet on Reach and
  Pass blocks.

ltHead Placement Clips heregt
37
FB Coaching Strategies
Improving the basic skill

• I make liberal use of the Pancake Drill (Pit
  Blocking). Its one of the best drills for
  working on the technique of blocking.
• I can get many full contact reps in with little
  chance of injury.
• It has many variations that can be used to
  emphasize many different skills.
• It teaches players to finish blocks.
• The players love this drill.

• Head Placement is everything. More often than
  not, all a FB has to do is make sure his head
  placement is correct to insure a decent block.
• I stress Head Placement in every blocking drill.
  
• I want the FB to place his helmet inside
  defenders helmet on Kick Out and Lead blocks,
  and outside the defenders helmet on Reach and
  Pass blocks.

• Dont forget the Feet! More than 75 of a
  players power comes from his lower body.
• Moving the feet after initial contact is
  imperative if the FB wishes to get any movement
  on the man he is blocking.
• I know my FBs arent keeping their feet moving
  when they hit, bounce back, then recoil and
  deliver another hit A sure sign of lazy feet.

38
FB Coaching Strategies
Making the Kick Out more effective
Teaching Kick Out mechanics

• Take the correct path. Banana route Go toward
  the LOS before going down it. The Crossover step
  helps with this.
• Head in the hole- like I said before, Head
  Placement is everything.
• Turn up field if no one shows for the Kick Out.
  Dont over extend and lead the WB and pullers too
  far outside.

ltKick Out clips heregt
39
FB Coaching Strategies
Making the Kick Out more effective
Teaching Kick Out mechanics

• Take the correct path. Banana route Go toward
  the LOS before going down it. The Crossover step
  helps with this.
• Head in the hole- like I said before, Head
  Placement is everything.
• Turn up field if no one shows for the Kick Out.
  Dont over extend and lead the WB and pullers too
  far outside.

ltKick Out clips heregt

• Make liberal use of the Pancake Drill when
  teaching Kick Out mechanics. It can be adapted to
  practice many different nuances to the Kick Out
  block.

40
Pancake Drill

• A traffic cone is set 1 yard in front of the
  tackling dummies. A second cone is placed 4
  yards away and 2 yards deeper than the first
  cone. A third cone is set 2 ft. x 2 ft. to the
  outside of the second cone. The blocker aligns
  in a 3 pt. stance next to the deepest cone. The
  defender stands next to the first cone and in
  front of the tackling dummies while holding a
  hand shield.
• On the coachs signal, his first step is to be a
  crossover step with the backside foot making sure
  to step toward the LOS. He should bend his path
  around the second cone so that his path arcs
  toward the defender. He should aim for the
  defenders INSIDE shoulder. The correct Head
  Placement here is to have his helmet INSIDE of
  the defenders helmet.
• As always- I insist that the FB keep his feet
  driving and finish the block by driving the
  defender into the pads.

Have the defender turn sideways and brace against
the hit. This provides good practice against a
common DE technique.
Bring in one of your lineman and have the players
practice their Kick Outs against larger players.
41
FB Coaching Strategies
Making the Kick Out (EVEN MORE) effective
These techniques can be easily adapted into your
basic play mechanics to improve your Full Backs
Kick Out blocks. Whether you are trying to
improve sub-par blocking abilities or simply
trying to give your FB every possible advantage,
these two little tricks can make a world of
difference.
The Brush By- Using the threat of a Down or
Reach block to make the Kick Out easier.

• - Brush Bys are used to temporarily distract a
  Defensive End. That is we do not want to
  directly impede his up field momentum. Instead,
  we just want to interfere with it a little. The
  goal is to pass so close to him that he must
  first (if even for just a split second) divert
  his attention to the player executing the brush
  by and away from the approaching FB. This
  simplifies the FBs block since the DE can no
  longer focus all of his efforts on defeating the
  Kick Out .
• Brush bys should be employed by the WBs
  primarily, but since I sometimes run my Power
  plays very tightly, the TEs should know how to do
  it also.

ltBrush By clips heregt
42
FB Coaching Strategies
Making the Kick Out (EVEN MORE) effective
Defeating the Stalemated Kick Out

• Bench, Bend, Dig- For whatever reason, a FB
  will sometimes find himself stalemated on his
  Kick Out. When ever the FB finds himself in a
  situation where his block has been negated, we
  want him to
• Bench - Extend his arms fully (as in a bench
  press) and push the DE away.
• Bend - Arch his body into the DE (roll the
  hips) while extending his arms for maximum
  leverage.
• Dig - Dig in with his feet and attempt to
  drive his legs.

ltStalemated Kick Out clips heregt
Making the Kick Out when all else fails

• Get help for the FB. (Have the QB double team
  the DE)

ltQB double DE clips heregt
43
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Getting him the ball in open space
Enhancing your existing FB plays
44
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Getting him the ball in open space
Throw him the ball! - The FB is the hardest
single receiver to account for in the DW. Since I
put my best kid at FB, I want to take advantage
of this by finding ways to throw him the ball in
places where he can do the most damage.

• I make him the second option on my PA passes
  instead of the third.
• It takes an exceptional youth QB to quickly read
  3 receivers anyway, I might as well reduce the
  number of reads he needs to make while
  improving the chances of getting the ball to my
  best kid.

45
Make the FB option number 2 on your Play Action
pass.
Option
1
(3)
Option
2
46
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Getting him the ball in open space
Throw him the ball! - The FB is the hardest
single receiver to account for in the DW. Since I
put my best kid at FB, I want to take advantage
of this by finding ways to throw him the ball in
places where he can do the most damage.

• I make him the second option on my PA passes
  instead of the third.
• It takes an exceptional youth QB to quickly read
  3 receivers anyway, I might as well reduce the
  number of reads he needs to make while
  improving the chances of getting the ball to my
  best kid.

• I design pass routes intended to clear out a
  specific zone for him. I sometimes use my TEs
  and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB
  in underneath them.

47
Design pass routes intended to clear out a
specific zone for the FB.
S
C
C
B
B
B
B
T
E
E
T
ltFB Pass clips heregt
48
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Getting him the ball in open space
Throw him the ball! - The FB is the hardest
single receiver to account for in the DW. Since I
put my best kid at FB, I want to take advantage
of this by finding ways to throw him the ball in
places where he can do the most damage.

• I make him the second option on my PA passes
  instead of the third.
• It takes an exceptional youth QB to quickly read
  3 receivers anyway, I might as well reduce the
  number of reads he needs to make while
  improving the chances of getting the ball to my
  best kid.

• I design pass routes intended to clear out a
  specific zone for him. I sometimes use my TEs
  and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB
  in underneath them.

• I use plays that others might not ever consider.
  Plays like a Full Back Sweep are practical
  additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast
  runner

49
88 FB Sweep
ltFB Sweep clips heregt
50
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Getting him the ball in open space
Throw him the ball! - The FB is the hardest
single receiver to account for in the DW. Since I
put my best kid at FB, I want to take advantage
of this by finding ways to throw him the ball in
places where he can do the most damage.

• I make him the second option on my PA passes
  instead of the third.
• It takes an exceptional youth QB to quickly read
  3 receivers anyway, I might as well reduce the
  number of reads he needs to make while
  improving the chances of getting the ball to my
  best kid.

• I design pass routes intended to clear out a
  specific zone for him. I sometimes use my TEs
  and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB
  in underneath them.

• I use plays that others might not ever consider.
  Plays like a Full Back Sweep are practical
  additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast
  runner.

• I put him in motion to expand my options w/ him.
  (also adds a nice twist to some of my other
  plays)

51
FB Motion.
ltFB Motion clips heregt
52
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Getting him the ball in open space
Throw him the ball! - The FB is the hardest
single receiver to account for in the DW. Since I
put my best kid at FB, I want to take advantage
of this by finding ways to throw him the ball in
places where he can do the most damage.

• I make him the second option on my PA passes
  instead of the third.
• It takes an exceptional youth QB to quickly read
  3 receivers anyway, I might as well reduce the
  number of reads he needs to make while
  improving the chances of getting the ball to my
  best kid.

• I design pass routes intended to clear out a
  specific zone for him. I sometimes use my TEs
  and WBs to run off defenders and slip the FB
  in underneath them.

• I use plays that others might not ever consider.
  Plays like a Full Back Sweep are practical
  additions to my playbook when my FB is a fast
  runner

• I put him in motion to expand my options w/ him.
  (also adds a nice twist to some of my other
  plays)

• I will cross train him to play WB occasionally
  to run Sweeps or down field Passes.

53
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Enhancing your existing FB plays
The G Play

• Hit the hole HARD. The Cross Over step should
  be employed to help the FB keep his shoulders as
  square as possible. Cross over, then plant the
  second step and hit the hole.

• Practice having the FB bend the G play outside
  just after he clears the first level of the D.
  This can make for some big gains if you can get a
  decent block on the play side LB by your play
  side WB.

• Use Heavy (Tackle Over) formations to create
  defensive bubbles. Use this randomly and dont
  over use it..If you practice aligning in Heavy
  formation as you break the huddle instead of
  shifting to it, youll have better odds odds of
  catching the defense off guard.
• You can also use a Wings On call to gain a
  similar advantage.

ltG clips heregt
54
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Enhancing your existing FB plays
The Trap Play

• PATIENCE , PATIENCE, PATIENCE! Dont rush this
  play. Teach the FB to use the pulling G as his
  Go cue. As soon as the Gs butt crosses his
  face, then he can go. ..Once he does go, go hard
  and fast! Traps generally do not do well with FBs
  that do not accelerate well from a standstill.
  ltsee Bunny Hops Frog Leapsgt

• Dont Advertise- Stay low and dont pop up
  prior to taking the handoff.

• Focus on getting the LBs blocked. Always use
  your play side WB and TE to block LBs. Dont send
  either one of them after a Safety, or any
  defender aligned deeper than the play side LB, or
  the MLB in a one LB defense.
• Wouldnt you prefer to have your FB running
  one-on-one against a Safety rather than a LB???

ltTrap clips heregt
55
Taking Advantage of a Gifted FB
Enhancing your existing FB plays
The Wedge Play
There isnt much a FB can do to improve the Wedge
play other than

• Keep the knees high- Step On or Over
  anything that gets in the way.
• -AND-
• Always be on the lookout for seams that might
  develop in the Wedge. The Wedge can be a big
  yardage play.

.But in the end, a great Wedge
IS ALL ABOUT THE PLAY OF YOUR LINE
ltWedge Clips heregt
56
Building a Better Full Back
Kevin S. Thurman
This presentation is posted at www.The-Endzone.n
et
Follow the Offensive Resources link
Questions or comments- CoachThurman_at_The-Endzone.n
et